Whitehall Police: Be Aware Of Hitman Text Scam

WHITEHALL, PA - Whitehall Police are warning people to be on the lookout for so-called “hitman scammers” threatening to kill them unless they make a substantial payment to the fictional assassin.

A woman contacted police Thursday after receiving a text message from an unknown sender claiming he was hired to kill her but wanted to spare her. The sender wanted a $5,000 to abort the assassination and provided an email address.

The text message was part of a scam called “Hitman” that has been making the rounds in Pennsylvania and nearby states. Whitehall Police warned that replying to such messages alerts the scammers that they’ve reached a live account, which often escalates the threat.

The sender then usually messages back with personal details such as the recipient’s work address, marital status and children’s names in hopes of receiving money from the scam target. Police cautioned that much of this information can be obtained online and does not make the threat credible.

Receiving an unexpected message from an unknown number can make you a little wary. Normally it's just someone you haven't spoken to in a while. But unfortunately, it's also another opportunity for scammers to take advantage of you.

Today, a motorist received a text message from an unknown sender claiming he was hired to kill her but wished to spare her life. The sender requested a $5,000 payment to spare her life and provided an email address. Fortunately, the motorist did the right thing by stopping to speak with an officer before responding to the message.

Anyone receiving a hitman text is advised to disregard it. Internet crime can be reported to your local police department or to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Photo via Whitehall Borough Police Department.